"Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" stars Russell Crowe, playing the role of Jack Aubrey. He is the captain of a British exploration warship sailing far away from home. The movie is set during the Napoleonic Wars between England and France. Crowe and his shipmates encounter the French, and battle it out to see who will dominate that region of the world. The battle between the two opposing countries is interspersed with character development of the English ship's surgeon, Stephen Maturin, portrayed by Paul Bettany. Ultimately, the guile and cunning of the captains will determine the winner in this maritime conflict.